Photography and film give me an opportunity to fulfill my curiosity for the mysteries of everyday encounters. I am always interested in people’s vitality and fate, how we shape the world around us, and vice versa.

On an emotional and narrative level, I am interested in looking at human bonds and at people’s being, both physical and mental: love relationships, family, friendship, childhood, aging, physical fragility, sensuality, courage, desire and hope. I recognize that these are very broad themes. But it’s this universality that creates a bond, touches us as we recognize common existential questions and feelings. The stories I tell through my photographs or films don’t provide answers to these questions. Hopefully, they act as moments of contemplation and recognition. This open humanist focus is the common strand between my personal projects and my commissioned work. Whether I am photographing and filming on assignment or for personal work, my drive is to tell stories that touch and inspire people.

Technique:

On a technical level I like my images to have a sense of peace and quietness. Even if I capture a busy scene I find it important that the image is clear. A combination of real life stolen moments and carefully arranged framing, light and color composition. Whether it’s an assignment with a large crew behind me, or a documentary portrait just by myself I have the same approach.

What I work with:

For my photography I use a Canon Mark3 with mostly a 35 and a 50 mm L-Lens. But I also work with medium format Hasselblad or Phase One if required. The medium formats I rent on assignment.

For commercial use I mostly use strobe light from Pro photo to be able to create any kind of desirable light situation. I like to create a natural feeling.

For my longer Documentary films I usually work with a cameraman so I have time to fully focus on directing. For short film projects I do camerawork myself with my Canon C300 and L-lenses. I prefer to work with a sound recordist but occasionally I can also do that myself. It all depends on what the situation is and what we want to have as an end result.